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Foam Questions
Is foam important to have in my case?
We understand the importance of having your product
arrive in perfect condition and the value lost when your products arrive
damaged. Protecting your products with foam is one of the most common
value added services we provide. We are uniquely qualified to produce
the right package for your needs because of our fabricating capability
and range of materials we offer.
Listed below are the different types
of foam cushioning that we offer for all our cases:
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Foam Styles
No Foam: Empty
case with no foam lining or insulation. All case size descriptions
provide interior measurements that do not include foam specifications.
Foam
Lined: The case comes with all walls lined
with foam, including the lid and the bottom of the case. We recommend
at least 2” of
foam, but different thicknesses are available.
Foam Filled: The interior of the case is completely
filled with 1” or 2” thick
layers of foam or in one solid piece for special applications.
Pick and Pluck: The interior is filled with layers of
perforated foam in small squares for self customization of smaller case applications.
The lid foam may be solid foam or convoluted (egg crate) style. Typically there
is solid foam pad below the pick and pluck. |
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Custom Foam
Fabricated: Multiple layers of
foam are glued together to create square or rectangular
shaped cavities. We recommend at least 2” of
foam around the perimeter of the case and 1”-3” between the items
depending upon their weight and size.
Die Cut Foam: This custom fit interior is made
from a steel die shaped to your exact specifications. It is cost
effective for production runs of 20 + cases.
Water Jet: This process for cutting custom
foam interiors with a high pressure water stream. The smallest details
are easily cut with great accuracy. The cavity walls are straight
at full depth unlike with the die cut method in which the cavity
walls are slightly bowed. |
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Types of Foam
Polyethylene: Firm dense foam. Meets MIL
P 26514, type 1, class 2 specs. Use with heavier products or equipment.
Polyurethane: Soft, open-cell foam. Best for delicate
and light weight items. |
How do I know how much foam is necessary to protect my product?
As a rule, most applications* will suffice with a minimum two (2) inches of quality
foam cushioning surrounding delicate equipment. To ensure adequate protection,
measure the equipment Left to Right, Front to Back and Top to Bottom add 4 inches
to those dimensions. Note: be sure to include any protrusions such as knobs,
handles, and connectors in your measurements!
The case industry defines a case as having a Left to Right, Front to Back and
Top to Bottom. The industry practice of determining which side of the case is
the Left to Right, Front to Back and Top to Bottom is to visualize the case lying
flat the way that you are most likely to open it and the hinge side opposite
or away from you.
In this orientation, the case dimension from Left to Right, Front to Back and
the Top to Bottom. For those rare occasions when the hinge is on the left or
right side of the case, the longest dimension horizontal to the surface it is
sitting on, would still be called the left to right. The height is split into
two pieces, a bottom/ base and a lid. These are called "splits". For example,
you may have a case with an 15-inch height with splits of 11-inches (bottom/base)
and 4-inches (lid).
When measuring monitors, LCD flatscreen displays or swiveling equipment, always
make sure that the screen or face is perpendicular to your work surface.
Should you have more than one item going in to the case, place the items 1- 1.5" apart
from each other for items under 5lbs. and 2"apart for larger items. Next add
1" to all sides of the perimeter for smaller items and 2" for larger.
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*Note that the 2" rule may not pertain
to smaller OEM applications. |
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